I Sell the Dead follows the path of Arthur Blake, a 19th century historical figure known to steal bodies from cemeteries and coffins throughout England until his eventual capture. In the movie, Blake (played by Dominic Monaghan of The Lord of the Rings, Lost, and Flash Forward) decides to weave a tale for the strange priest, Father Duffy (Ron Perlman of Hellboy and Sons of Anarchy) who comes to talk to him before his hanging. Add to that the unique character of Willie Grimes (Larry Fessenden, who also produced the film), the body thief who trains young Angus in the art of body snatching, and Dr. Vernon Quint (Angus Scrimm of Phantasm fame), the doctor for whom Angus and Willie steal the bodies... it
I Sell the Dead is beautifully shot – in a Hammer/American International kind of way – with atmospheric matte painting and animations that fill backgrounds and act as interstitials, framing each of the adventures Blake relates to his rapt audience of one. In terms of plotting and set up, I Sell the Dead doesn’t just call to mind great Hammer Films productions of the past, but also great horror anthology films like Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow.
Features include: Audio Commentary by Fassenden and Monaghan [a lovely mix of anecdote and information]; Audio Commentary by McQuaid; The Making of I Sell the Dead; The Visual Effects of I Sell the Dead, and the Trailer. Also included is the graphic novel adaptation of an earlier draft of the script, a 44-page comic done in EC Comics style.
Larry Fessenden, producer-star of “The Last Winter” and director of “Wendigo” – two modern masterpieces – turns in another memorable performance in I SELL THE DEAD as the grave-robber who trains the young Monaghan. Angus Scrimm (“Phantasm”) co-stars in this deliriously grisly and hilarious homage to foggy graveyards, bloody mayhem and the golden age of gothic horror.
